What is it used for?
Xenical is used to treat people who are obese (BMI ≥ 30) or overweight (BMI ≥ 27) with other risk factors.
Xenical can also help to improve risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar. If these are not treated, they could lead to other diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

Contraindications and cautions:
Do not take Xenical if:
1. you have had an allergic reaction to Xenical (orlistat) or any ingredients
2. your doctor has diagnosed that your uptake of essential nutrients is lower than it should be
3. you have certain pancreatic problems
4. you have had recent major surgery to your stomach or intestines
5. you have a blockage of your bile duct
Do not give Xenical to children or adolescents under 18 years of age.
Tell your doctor if:
* you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
* you are breast-feeding or intend to breast-feed
* you have vitamin deficiencies
* you have kidney stones
* you have any allergies to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes
* you have peptic (stomach) ulcer disease
* you receive long term treatment for mental or nerve disorders
* you have symptomatic cholelithiasis (painful gall stones)
* you have post surgical adhesions
* you have an eating disorder
* you take large doses of laxatives
* you have significant heart, kidney, liver, gastrointestinal or endocrine disorders
* you have any other health problems.

Side effects:
Like all medicines, xenical can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking xenical.
These symptoms are generally mild, occur at the beginning of treatment, go away after some time and are particularly experienced after meals containing high levels of fat. Normally, these symptoms disappear if you continue treatment and keep to your recommended diet.
Rare cases of allergic reactions have occurred with Xenical. The main symptoms are itching, rash, wheals (slightly elevated, itchy skin patches that are paler or redder than surrounding skin), severe difficulty in breathing, nausea, vomiting and feeling unwell.
The use of an additional contraceptive method is recommended to prevent possible failure of oral contraception that could occur in case of severe diarrhoea.
If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side, please tell your doctor.

Interactions:
Because weight loss has many beneficial effects, it may also affect the dose of medication taken for conditions such as high cholesterol or diabetes. Be sure to discuss these and other drugs you may be taking with your doctor.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines including any that you have bought from a pharmacy, supermarket or healthfood shop. Some medicines and Xenical may interfere with each other. These include:
• cyclosporin, a transplant rejection drug
• amiodarone, a medicine used to treat irregular heart beat
• warfarin or other anticoagulants, medicines that prevent blood clots
• acarbose, a medicine used to treat diabetes
• other weight-loss medicines
• some vitamin supplements.
These medicines may be affected by Xenical. Your doctor will advise you.